Automatic valve



Sept. 15, 1931. E BARNES 1,822,917

AUTOMATIC VALVE Filed July 24, 1926 if' l Wl TNESSES I N VEN TORQ' wu/@4 Q. 71M Eugene L Barnes,

@WAM- W Bly,l

Patented Sept. l5, 1931 v.ET TGrENE L. BARNES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK AUTOMATIC VALVE Application led July 24,

This invent-ion relates to automatic valves especially designed for use in a circulatory refrigerating system to control the flow of liquid refrigerant from the high pressure side of a/the system to the low pressure side of the same system without allowing the passage of vapor refrigerant.

An object of my invention is to provide a valve which is automatically actuated by the intermittent inflow and outflow of a predetermined measure of the liquid-passing through the valve-at`an elevation above a trapped body of said liquid subject to evaporation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic valve for refrigerating systems which is opened by an overbalancing inflow of liquid refrigerant thereinto and which gravitates to closed position incident to the outflow of such overbalance through the valve.

A further object is to provide an eficient control for the valve, positive in its action, and which is free of all external liquid influence tending to interfere with its automatic operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a typical embodiment of my invention, while the subjoined claims serve to define those features which are deemed novel in the art.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a longitudinal view,V partly in section, of my automatic valve; and,

Fig. II is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the arrowed lines II-II in Fig. I.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the automatic valve of my invention is enclosed in a chamber or boiler 3 conveniently of cylindrical formand having one end 4 permanently closed-in, while the other end is fitted. with a removable head 5 secured thereto by screw studs 6 threaded into the chamber flange 7. Liquid refrigerant is conducted from any suitable source, by way of a connection 8, into an elongated cylindrical vessel 9 mounted in and secured to the removable head 5 and extending (as shown) sub- 1926. Serial No. 124,618.

or boiler 3 for the purpose of evaporation-as well as to maintain a suitable normal liquid level in the latter-is controlled by a verticalv ly movable valve device which is lowered by an inflow of the liquid refrigerant into the vessel 9, and raised by outflow of said refrigerant into thechamber-or boiler 3. This valve device comprises a cylindrical gravity or balance receptacle 10 with both ends closedin by caps 11, while it is fitted medially with an embracingyoke 12 having a boss 13 bored and screw-threadedto receive the removable orifice-valveor outlet member 14. The yoke 12 also embodies parallel tubular legs 15 slidable vertically upon guide rods 16 (one at either side of the receptacle 10) rigidly supported by a winged yoke or annulus 17 mounted around and securely attached to the vessel 9. The guide rods 16 may be driftedor screw-threaded-into the wings or lugs 18 of the annulus 17 Liquid refrigerant is fed from the clon-- gated vessel- 9 lto the balance receptacle 10 through an upright -supply tube 19 conveniently screwed into a correspondingly threaded aperture in the annulus 17 and vessel wall. This tube 19 is provided at its upper end with an adjustable stop 2O whereby the vertical risev of the balance receptacle 10 is limited. Said stop 2O also serves as a valve head for cooperating with the seat at the-upper side of the outlet member 14. Y

' Formed onthe annulus 17 is anextension 21 having spaced lugs 22 between which is pivoted, at 23, a counterbalance comprising longitudinally directed lever or rod 24 provided at the end adjacent said' pivotg23 with a forked portion 25.4 This forked portion 25 co-operates with opposed knife-edge fulcrums 26, on the parallel legs 15, in supporting the receptacle 10; whereas the outer end of the lever or rod 24 is upwardly deflected and fitted with a screw-collar counterweight `27, which, when once adjustedv to slightly overbalance' the receptacle, 10, lnormally closes the valve 14 on itsseat207 and requires no further attention or adjustments.

Outflow of liquid refrigerant from the balance receptacle 10 into the casing or boiler 3 is by way of the bore 28 of the valve 14; said bore being slightly larger' than the eX- ternal diameter of the tube 19.

The liquid refrigerant intermittently fed into the casing or `boiler 3 is =therein .vaporized and returned by way of a conduit 29 to the compressor or other means whereby itis re-liquefied.

The operation of my automatic valve is as follows: Assuming that the casing'or boiler 3 is filled with liquid refrigerant to the requisite normal level and that vthe valve 14 is closed .to its seat 20fas shownunder action of the counterweiglit 27; it will 'be understood that, the balance receptacle 10 is now gradually supplied with liquid refrigerant "from the chamber9 by .way ofthe tube .'19 until it overbalanees the .counterweight Q7. Immediately such overba'lance takes place, 'the valve.14 will recede from 'its seat 20, incidentto'the added liquid lweight in receptacle 10, and lower the receptacle l0 `vertically over 'the guide rods 16, .whereupon such added liquid weight is .discharged through the lvalve 'bore 28 .into the casing or boiler 3 to re-esta'blish gthe .normal liquid level therein depleted 'by evaporation. Concurrent with the outflow of lliquid refrigerant `'from the balance receptacle 10, said receptacle .is gradually returned to its seat under cushioning influence of the outflow 4and 'the influence ofthe counterwe'ight 27.

As .the cycle ofoperations, just set forth, continues it will l:be seen that TI am able 'torautornatically maintain within reasonable limits a predetermined level of 'liquid refrigertacle for guiding its up and down movements.

2. The combination with a boiler chamber of a circulatory refrigerating system and a liquid refrigerant supply connection extending horizontally in said chamber, of a gravity receptacle in said chamber above said con nection receiving liquid aefrigerant therefrom, means extending upward vfrom said lconnection at either side thereof for guiding ,the up and dow-n movement of said receptacle, and a counterbalance for said receptacle `fu'lclumed on said connection and engaging the receptacle between its said guide means.

3. The combi-nation with a boiler chamber of .a circulatory refrigerating system land a Aliquid refrigerant supply connection Vextend- .'.inghorizontally in said chamber, of a gravity receptacle in said ichamber above said connectionfreceiving `liquid refrigeranttherefrom, a yoke mountedaround said connection w'itli guide `rods vextendingupward'therefrom at .either side .of said receptacle, and a yoke around said receptacle provided with means vfor engaging said guidey rods.

In testimony whereof, I lhave thereunto lsigned my name at Buffalo, New York, Athis `22nd day of July, 1926. l

L. BARNES.

ant 5in `the trap chamber or .boiler`3 sincethe amount of refrigerant in vthe closed system is constant. 'Furthermore attention is directed to the fact that the balance receptacle 10 is, at all "times above the liquid level -in .the chamber or 'boiler and that it is, i-n no way, .actuated or influencedby the 'liquid refrigerant in chamber or boiler 3.; hence the receptacle 10 is ,not a oat7 device 'but cons'titutes .a balance w'hich actuates the vvertically movable valve 14.

`While il have shown a ,particular construction of my automatic valve, it is to 'be understood the details as .to form .and arrangement of the ,parts vthereof are susceptible of modiicationl within Vthe scopeofthe claims Having thus described my invention, I claim.: n

1. The combination with a lboiler lChamber of a circulatory .refrigerating systemand a liquid refrigerant supply connection extending 'horizontally in said chamber, ofV agravity receptacle in said chamberabove said connection receiving :liquid refrigerant therefronr, .and means extending upward from said connection at either-side tofsa`id.recep. 

